OWC’s Thunderbolt Go Dock streamlines data transfer for on-the-go professionals. Designed for digital imaging technicians and filmmakers with limited setup and break-down time, the dock features a built-in power supply for simplified cable management and reduced equipment. In addition, the Thunderbolt Go Dock can connect with all Thunderbolt and USB-C Macs, Windows PCs, iPads, Chromebooks and Android devices.
Let’s look at these features in more detail.
Built-in power supply
OWC’s new Thunderbolt Go Dock is the first full-featured Thunderbolt dock with a built-in power supply, making it a practical choice for everyday use in the field. That’s one less power brick you have to lug around, making it easier to pack and lighter to carry.
The Thunderbolt Go Dock also benefits your home workspace. How so? Having all of your ports in one place simplifies your desk’s cable management. This ultimately helps keep your workspace clear. Additionally, the Thunderbolt Go Dock uses a standard figure-8 power cable. So, if you misplace the original, it is easy to borrow one from another device or pick up a replacement.
Better power delivery
One of the limitations of bus-powered portable docks is that they can only provide the power made available by the host computer. The built-in power supply of OWC’s Thunderbolt Go Dock overcomes the limitations of bus-powered portable docks by providing ample power, regardless of the host computer. For charging laptops or tablets, the dock’s mains-powered supply includes a 90W Thunderbolt uplink port, as well as two Thunderbolt and four USB ports.
Fanless design
The Thunderbolt Go Dock comes equipped with a solid aluminum heat-dissipating fanless design. This allows the Thunderbolt Go Dock to dispense heat without the loud, distracting sound of a fan.
Fast ingest
Another great feature of the Thunderbolt Go Dock is its built-in SD UHS-II card reader. The SD UHS-II card reader makes it simpler and quicker to ingest videos and photos from camera media. Plus, you can use the Thunderbolt Go Dock’s SD card reader as an external drive to store or backup files as needed.
Transfer files faster
As part of the trend for slimmer and stripped-back design, many modern laptops and tablets have dropped network ports. While the slimmer design makes laptops much more portable, there is a drawback to dropping network ports. You have to connect to Wi-Fi, which is sometimes unreliable. Additionally, laptops that do have Ethernet ports are often limited to the older 1 Gb/s standard. However, the Thunderbolt Go Dock gives you access to a fast-wired network connection.
With the Thunderbolt Go Dock’s 2.5 Gb/s Ethernet port, you can work up to 2.5 times faster than with a standard Ethernet connection. It provides the added confidence of using a wired network, as you don’t have to worry about signals dropping out during transfers. You can also benefit from increased productivity through IP-based workflows.
You can also use the 2.5 Gb/s Ethernet port on the Thunderbolt Go Dock to connect to a network-attached storage (NAS) device. With a NAS drive, you can use faster data access and backup. In addition, the Thunderbolt Go Dock’s 2.5 Gb/s Ethernet means you can even use a NAS device for smooth 4K video playback and editing.
Connect more
The Thunderbolt Go Dock offers all the necessary connections for data transfer on the go. It features inputs for connecting external storage and multiple displays and is compatible with Windows PC, iPad, Chromebook, Android devices and USB-C Mac computers. The Thunderbolt Go Dock’s uplink port utilizes a USB-C connector so you can connect to a vast range of computers and devices. You even get future proofing with USB4 compatibility.
Front panel connections
On the front of the Thunderbolt Go Dock and the SD card reader, you have one USB 2.0 Type-A port and one USB 3.2 10 Gb/s Type-C port. There is also a 3.5 mm audio jack for monitoring with headphones. In addition, the dedicated 90 W power delivery Thunderbolt uplink port is located on the side of the Thunderbolt Go Dock.
Rear panel connections
On the back of the Thunderbolt Go Dock, there is another complete set of connections. There are two Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB 3.2 10 Gb/s Type-A ports. There is also one HDMI 2.1 video output which supports up to an 8K display. Alternatively, the Thunderbolt Go Dock can support up to two 4K displays, which greatly boosts your productivity when you are away from your usual place of work. Finally, the rear panel also houses the 2.5 Gb/s Ethernet port and mains power connector.
More connectivity options
The Thunderbolt Go Dock gives you all the options you need to connect the devices you want to use. For example, you can attach high-performance storage solutions such as NVMe drives. You can also record and livestream with an AV mixer. If you want to expand your computer’s capabilities, you can add a PCIe expansion enclosure or even use your favorite external keyboard and mouse when on location.
Transform your tablet into a full computing platform
The Thunderbolt Go Dock works with all Thunderbolt and USB-C devices, so you don’t need to worry about compatibility. With its built-in power supply, you can ditch the charger. Additionally, you have the power and connectivity to run a complete computing platform from your tablet out on location. So, even though you’re traveling with less stuff, you aren’t leaving anything behind.
Multiple displays
If you need to edit video away from your usual base, the ability to use an external display is a big advantage. With the Thunderbolt Go Dock, you can use a single 8K display to preview your video and edit in detail. Alternatively, you could opt for two 4K displays. This means you can edit on one monitor while previewing the RAW playback on a second screen, all in full 4K resolution.
Expand your ports
The Thunderbolt Go Dock gives you the power to expand a single port on your tablet into eleven different ports. All of your connectivity needs are covered. You can read and write to and from your SD card media. You can also share your files via a high-speed and stable wired network connection or offload them to an external drive. Also, you can work with a larger external monitor, a mouse and a full-sized physical keyboard. With the Thunderbolt Go Dock, you can turn your tablet into a full desktop video, audio or podcast recording and editing workstation.
Take it on the road
When you’re working with video away from your base, it can be tempting to choose a bus-powered dock to expand your computer’s ports. However, the OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock combines the simplicity and convenience of a bus-powered dock with the power of a mains-powered device. It’s an all-in-one device that brings all the connections you need wherever you go.
So, if you’re looking to speed up your workflow, simplify your cable management, travel lighter and have all the ports when you need on location, consider the OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock. If you would like to learn more about the OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock, click here.
